Surface controlled combination pump and gas lift



Jan. 11, 1944. G. A. HUMAsoN SURFACE CONT-ROLLED COMBINATION PUMP AND GAS LIFT Filed Dec. 13 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l fai fvwm/We Hamadm.

1N VENTOR.

Jan. 11, 1944. G. A. HUMAsoN 2,338,767

SURFACE CONTROLLED COMBINATION PUMP AND GAS LIFT Jan. 11, 1944. G. A. HUMAsoN SURFACE CONTROLLED COMBINATION PUMP AND GAS LIFT 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. l5,

5MM/2f #www INVENTOR. m@ f6? w Jan. 11, 1944. G. A. HUMAsoN SURFACE CONTROLLED COMBINATION PUMP AND GAs LIFT Filed Dec. 13. 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 VIM WIN.

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BY @im Hrm/avan Patented Jan. 11, 1944 SURFACE CONTROLLED COMBINATION PUMP AND GAS LIFT Granville A. Humason, Houston, Tex., assignor of fifty per cent to Ben H. Johnston, and twenty-five per cent to Earl L. Lester, Sr., both of Houston, Tex.

Application December 13, 1941, Serial No. 422,833

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination pump and gas lift for oil wells and more particularly to a device which may be utilized for initially producing a well under formation pressure and thereafter continuing production of the well by gas lift and/or pumping action after the formation pressures have fallen to a value where natural flow ceases.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a construction for efiiciently producing earth iluids from a well bore.

Another object is to provide a device through which a well may be produced under natural formation pressures.

Still another object is to provide a device of the class described in which natural formation pressure may be supplemented by a pressure uid lift operation.

A further object is to utilize both pressure iluid and pump operations in producing a well.

A still further object is to provide a device which may also be utilized as a pump alone for producing a Well.

The foregoing objects, together with further objects, will be more fully apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a well head including the tube actuating mechanism;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged successive views of the well head with parts shown in section to more 'clearly illustrate the'structure thereof;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are successive vertical sectional views of a portion of the device within the well bore;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line I-'I in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 5;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are successive vertical sections of an alternative embodiment of the portion of the device positioned within the Well bore;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view through an alternative form of the gas admission element of the device;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view through a well head showing the manner of removing the ilow string from the well in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a sealing flange which may be used at the well head to provide a seal between the flow string and the casing.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a casing I within a well bore and having a well head 2 attached thereto at its upper end. 'I'he well head includes a reciprocable head 3 adapted to move vertically and hence move the flow string 4 to a desired elevated position or to reciprocate such string to effect combined aeration and pumping action as hereinafter disclosed.

Considering Figs. 4, 5 and 6 in seriatim, it is to be noted that the casing I extends downwardly within the well and is provided proximate its lower end with openings 5 to admit formation fluids thereto from surrounding formations. Within the lower end of the casing I is positioned a plunger assembly, generally identied as 6, provided intermediate its ends with a seal or packer I which forms a seal with the casing and hence divides the casing into upper and lower annular chambers 8 and 9 so that formation fluids entering the openings 5 must pass through the plunger assembly and also that a pressure uid may be applied in the casing I and about the flow tube 4 above the packer l.

Referring more specically to the complete structure just generally described, it is to be notedk that the casing head 2 (Figs. 2 and 3) comprises a flanged member I0 having one or more openings II to admit pressure fluid to the chamber 8. The member I0 is surmounted by a flanged outlet member I5, there being a seal ring I2 interposed between these members. A downwardly extending tail pipe I6 is attached to the member I5 and lipped seal ring I3 nts within the upper end of the annular space between the tail pipe and the member III. This lipped seal ring hence serves to supplement the seal ring I 2 and also to prevent any leakage through the vthreads I4 between the tail pipe I6 and the outlet member I5.

There is a slidable seal Il between the tail In order to prevent upward leakage of well fluids above the outlet I9 and about the slips 23, a ring 25 carrying the lipped seal ring 26 is positioned about the tube 4 and held in place by the nipple 20.

Attached to the upper flange of the nipple 20 is a base member 30 having an annular passageway 3l therein communicating with inlets 32 through which is conducted an operating fluid to pass upwardly in the stems 33 which serve as pistons within the cylinders formed by the tubular members 34 threadedly secured in openings in the lower face of the head 35. This head has a central opening to receive the tube 4 and this opening is flared at 36 to receive slips 31 which cooperate with the upper slips 38 so that the tube 4 is positively gripped and may be forced either upwardly or downwardly.

The upper slips 38 are forced downwardly by a collar 39 which is engaged by the ring nut 40 threadedly attached to the upper end of the head 35. Guide rods 4I are attached to the base 30 and slidably pass through openings in the flanged portion of the head 35.

It seems apparent that the application of the pressure fluid through the openings 32 to the base 33 may be utilized to position the head 35 at any desired elevation or, if desired, and as contemplated in one mode of operation, may be utilized to effect reciprocation of the flow string 4.

As already pointed out,lfiuids rising in the flow String 4 pass through the openings I8 and thence upwardly and outwardly through the outlets I9. There are circumstances under which it is desirable to close these openings so that the well is maintained positively closed and for this purpose there is provided a. cylindrical valve member 50 (Fig. 3) fitting sldably within the upper end of the ow tube 4. The lower end of this member is adapted to'engage an annular shoulder 5l when it is forced downwardly in. the flow tube 4. The downward movement of the valve member 50 is effected by pressure introduced through the inlet 52 in the cap member 53 attached to the upper end of the flow string 4. When such pressure is relieved the member 50 is moved upwardly and is held in its uppermost position by fluids rising under pressure within the flow string 4.

,Above the plunger assembly 6, the flow string 4 is provided with a traveling valve 60 from which a barrel 6I extends downwardly and is interiorly engaged by series of cups 62 and 63 surrounding the stem 64 which extends upwardly from the packer 1. The collar 65 which forms a coupling between portions of the stem 64 has projections 6G on its lower end to engage with the complementary recesses in the flange 61 at the lower end of the barrel 6I. This feature provides a nonrotatable connection between the flow string 4 and the plunger assembly when the ow string is lifted. Hence, it is possible to rotate the complete assembly by merely lifting and rotating the flow string.

Additional spaced series of cups 68 and 69 surround the stem B4 below the cups 63 and the intermediate connector 10 in the stem is provided with a plurality of passages 1I so that well fluids can pass upwardly within the assembly past a series of pressure fluid openings 12 which communicate with the bore of a stand pipe 13 terminating at its upper end in an upwardly opening check valve 14 having a bonnet portion 15 provided with a plurality of openings 1B to effectively inject the gaseous aerating fluid to the well fluids passing upwardly thereabout.

It is to be noted that the barrel 6I is provided with a plurality of openings 11 proximate its lower end so that pressure fluid within the chamber 8 will be admitted through such openings to the passages 12 when the flow string and barrel assembly are elevated sufficiently that the openings 11 are moved into mating relation with the passages 12.

Beneath the packer 1 is provided a standing valve assembly which includes an upwardly opening check valve 80 which, similar to the valve 14, is provided with a bonnet having a plurality of openings 16. This valve is designed to admit formation gases to the interior of the plunger assembly, and to this end there is provided a stand pipe 8| about the valve so that any fluids entering the valve must enter the upper end of` such stand pipe and thus pass through the radial passages 82 to the bore of the stem 83 upon which the valve 80 is mounted.

The coupling member 84 to which the valve 80 is attached is also provided with bypass passages 85 to conduct well liquid upwardly thereabout. Attached to the lower end of the coupling 85 is a second standing valve 90 below which is 20 provided a foraminated plugl 9| so that formation fiuids entering the passages 5 may pass upwardly through the standing valve. The plug 9| engages a supporting projection 92 in the bottom of the casing l so that the position of the plunger assembly 6 is determined.

The operation of the structure as thus far described is believed apparent from the description. For the sake of illustration, it will be assumed that the various parts are in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. Under these circumstances adequate formation pressure will cause well fluids to rise to the surface and tend to move the valve member 50 upwardly. If pressure is removed from the inlet 52, this valve member will move upwardly and the well will flow under normal formation pressure.

If, however, the formation pressures have fallen sufficiently that additional effort is necessary to ow the well, the head 3 may be elevated so that the openings 11 and 12 are brought into mating relation, whereupon pressure fluid applied to the chamber 8 will enter the flow string and assist in elevating and removing the fluids from the well. Under certain circumstances it is desirable to supplement such gas lift action, and

in such case fluid applied to the inlet 32 is applied intermittently so that the head 3 and the associated structure are reciprocated whereby aeration of the column of uids in the flow string is effected during a portion of the stroke.

When, however, the barrel 6I moves downwardly sulciently that the openings 11 pass below the cups 68, the admission of gas is terminated and the traveling valve 80 opens during such movement. The succeeding upstroke lifts the fluids above the traveling valve and also causes formation fluids to rise through the standing valve 90 about the aeration valve 80. In event gas pressure has accumulated about the packer 1 there vwill also be the admission of such gas through the valve 80 whereby aeration of the rising column of fluid will take place.

It seems apparent that the reciprocation of the head 35 may be so controlled that the openings 11 will not be uncovered, in which case pure pumping action takes-place, there being only such aeration of the produced fluids as takes place from the admission of gas through the valve 80 accumulating beneath the packer 1.

The device of the invention as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings includes parts that are the same as those of the structure thus far described and are identified by the same reference characters. In this embodiment it is to be noted that the packer 1' comprises a packing ring positioned within a recess within the connector |0| and is adapted to engage the shoulder |02 in the casing I whereby the elevation of the plunger assembly is determined.

The structure extending downwardly from the packer I is identical toy that heretofore described except that the aeration valve located below the packer is of the type shown at 14 in Fig'. 4.

The standing valve |03 is mounted above the packer 1' and serves to prevent any downward movement of well fluids which have been admitted through the valve 90 and aerated by the gas accumulating beneath the packer 1' and admitted through the valve 80'.

The bore of the stand pipe 13 communicates directly with the bore above the standing valve |03, while the annular space |04 about this stand pipe communicates with the exterior of the assembly through the openings 'l2'. By means of this construction the pressure fluid entering through the openings 11, when such openings are moved into substantially mating relation with the passages 12', passes upwardly through the space |04 and thence through the passages |05 in the head |06 at the upper end of the assembly. Accordingly. the admitted aerating fluid completely surrounds the upwardly rising column of well fluids and more effectively completes the aeration whereby the fliid rises through the standing valve 60 into the flow string 4.

It is, of course, understood that, as previously explained, this construction can be utilized to permit a well to flow under formation pressure. The flow string 4 may be moved to such a position that gas lift is effected or, if desired, a combination gas lift and pumping action may be utilized.

In Fig. 12 the upper end of the plunger assembly is shown as being modified by providing a special coupling ||0 between the series of cups 63 and 68, and such coupling is provided with a plurality of upwardly and inwardly inclined passageways so that pressure fluid admitted through the openings 11 in the barrel 6| and thence through the passages is trave!- ing in a generally upward direction as it enters the fluid column interiorly of the plunger assembly.

Fig. .13 illustrates the manner of removingY the flow string 4 from within the well. It is to be noted that theentire upper portion of the casing head assembly above the flanged nipple has been removed and that the slips 23 have been released for movement by removal of the studs 22. Also, the ring 25 and its associated lipped seal ring 26 have been removed inasmuch as the ring 25 is provided with ears which are adapted to move downwardly through internal slots in the flanged nipple 20 and thence be rotated in the undercut groove so that this assembly will be. held in position. It is therefore possible to remove this sealing assembly without removal of the flanged nipple 20. The slips 23 may therefore be used in a conventional manner during the lifting and removal of sections of pipe from the flow string 4.

Fig. 13 also illustrates diagrammatic-.ally the direction of flow of various fluids at the well head. The produced fluids are exhausted through the passage I9 to a separator ||2 whence the separated liquids are withdrawn in a manner well known in the art. The gaseous constituents however, are conducted through a pipeline ||3 to a pump ||4 and thence to the pressiu'e fluid inlet so that such fluids ma;1 be utilized to assist in the lifting of well fluids within the flow string. f

For the purpose of circulating fluid through the well at any time, the invention also comprehends an assembly such as that shown at ||5 in Fig. 14, this assembly being adapted to flt about the pipe 4 and to replace that portion of the Well head assembly which surmounts the member l0.

'I'he assembly ||5 comprises a flange member ||6 having outlets Ill. Above the outlets ||1 the structure is substantially the same as that shown at the upper end of the reciprocable head 3. Comparable elements are identified by primed reference characters. In the stead of slips within the chamber formed by the members H6, 39 and 40', there is provided a sealoff member H8 of rubber or other suitable sealing material. This seal-off member converges in opposite directions from the center, and hence increasing or decreasing sealing effect may be produced by tightening or loosening the ring nut 40. It seems apparent that by the use of this construction it is possible to provide an effective seal about the flow tube 4 so that circulation may be effected therebelow` without leakage about the flow tube. At the same time. the structure is such that, if desired, reciprocatory, rotational or axial movement of the flow tube may be effected.

Broadly, the invention comprehends a combination pump and gas lift for oil Wells which is capable of efficiently producing such Wells.

What is claimed is:

l. A well flowing device comprising a flow tube, means for reciprocating said flow tube, a traveling valve in said tube, means comprising a relatively reciprocable plunger and barrel, said barrel being operable by said flow tube to effect pumping action on fluid therein, and means for admitting a pressure fluid to said flow tube during a portion of the reciprocatory movement thereof.

2. A well flowing device comprising a flow tube, means for reciprocating said flow tube, a traveling valve insaid tube, means comprising a relatively reciprocable plunger and barrel, said barrel being operable byl said flow tube to effect pumping action on fluid therein, and means operable when the flow tube is reciprocated within predetermined limits for admitting a pressure fluid to the flow tube to supplement the pumping action by aeration of the fluids within the tube.

3. A well flowing device including a casing, a plunger assembly therein, a seal between the assembly and casing in the well, a reciprocable flow tube surrounding the assembly above said seal, an upwardly opening valve in said flow tube, means at the well head for reciprocating the flow tube to effect pumping action u'pon fluid admitted to the tube from the plunger assembly, and means for admitting pressure fluid from the casing to the flow tube during a portion of the stroke.

4. In a device of the class described, a casing, a plunger assembly therein, a standing valve in said assembly, a seal between said assembly and casing forming upper and lower chambers, a flow string extending into the casing and communicating with the bore in said assembly, said ow string and' assembly having relatively reciprocable telescoping portions a standpipe surrounding said assembly below the seal, and an aerating valve in the assembly communicating with the standpipe to aerate with accumulated gas the liquids rising within the assembly below the seal.

5. In a well flowing device, a casing, a plunger assembly, a seal between the casing and assembly, valve means for admitting well uids to the assembly below the seal, a ow tube telescopically surrounding the assembly above the seal, and spaced seals between said assembly and tube, there being passages through the walls of said tube and additional passages to the interior of the assembly intermediate the spaced seals to admit pressure fluid to the well fluids when the tube is moved to a predetermined position relative to the assembly.

6. A well flowing device comprising a flow tube, a check valve therein, a stationary plunger extending into said tube, a passage for admitting well iiuids upwardly through the plunger to the interior of the tube, and means for admitting an aerating fluid to the well fluids when the tube is moved to a predeteined position relative to the assembly.

7. A Well flowing device comprising a ow tube, a check valve therein, a stationary plunger extending into said tube, a passage for admitting A'w'ell iiuids upwardly through the plunger to the head, a flow tube extending upwardly therefrom,

a base on said head, tubular members extending upwardly therefrom, a movable head surrounding the ilow tube and releasably attached thereto, cylinders on said head extending telescopically downwardly about said tubular members, and means for supplying a pressure fluid to the interior of said members to elevate th'e head and tube.

9. In a device of the class described, a casinghead, a flow tube passing therethrough, a base on said head, a movable head surrounding the flow tube above said base, said movable head including slips engaging the tube and restraining from relative upward or downward movement between the head and tube, and means for periodically lifting said head.

10. In a device of the class described, a casinghead, a base thereon, a ow tube passing through said head and base, a movable head surrounding the flow tube above said base, upwardly and downwardly engaging slips in said head, means for clamping and releasing said slips, and a piston and cylinder mechanism interposed between the base and head to periodically lifting the head and flow tube.

' 11. In a device of the class described, a casing head, a flow tube passing therethrough, an outlet member attached to said head,- a tail pipe attached to said member and extending downwardly therefrom about the flow tube, and seal means between the flow tube and tail pipe, there being openings in the ow tube above said` seal means so that fluids from the flow tube pass through' the tail pipe and outlet member.

12. In a device of the class described a casinghead, an outlet member attached to said head, a flow tube passing through said head and member, atail pipe surrounding said flow tube and attached to said member, a lipped ring sealing the space between the flow tube and casinghead, and seal means between the tail pipe and flow tube, therebeing openings in the flow tube above said seal means to admit ui'd from the flow tube to the outlet member. l

13. In a well flowing and pumping mechanism,

` a casing, a flow tube therein including a traveling barrel, a plunger assembly including a plurality of cups having sealing engagement with th'e exterior of said barrel, means for effecting a pumping actionV when said iiow tube is reciprocated relative to said assembly, and means for admitting a pressure fluid to the iiow tube when the flow tube is moved to a predetermined position relative to the assembly.

14. In a device of the class described, a casinghead, an outlet member attached to said head, a flow tube passing through' said head and member, a tail pipe attached to said member and surrounding said ow tube, seal means between said ow tube and tail pipe providing relative reciprocation of said tube and pipe, there being openings inthe ow tube above said seal means to admit fluid from the ow tube to theIoutlet member, and valve means movable Within the now tube to close said openings.

GRANVILLE A. HUMASON. 

